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Low-frequency electromagnetic fields alter the replication cycle of MS2 bacteriophage.

Current microbiology · 1998 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 5390

At 5 G (12 experiments), EMF-exposed cultures showed a significant delay in phage yield 45–65 minutes after inoculation compared with controls, but the final phage concentration was not altered. At 25 G (N=5), results suggested impeded phage replication and i…

Study snapshot

PublicationCurrent microbiology · 1998
Study typein_vitro
Reported directionMixed
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

The effect of exposure to 60-Hz electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on RNA coliphage MS2 replication was studied. EMF exposure commenced when the bacterial cultures were inoculated with the phage (t = 0). In 12 experiments in which the strength of the field was 5 G, a significant delay in phage yield was found in the EMF-exposed cultures 45-65 min after inoculation, compared with control cultures. However, the EMF did not alter the final phage concentration. Experiments at 25 G (N = 5) suggested that the stronger field resulted in both impeded phage replication and increased phage yield. No differences between test groups were found in experiments involving sham-EMF exposure, thereby indicating that the results obtained with the EMFs were not due to systematic error. It appears that MS2, which codes for only four proteins, is the simplest biological system in which an EMF-induced effect has been demonstrated. The MS2 system is, therefore, conducive to follow-up studies aimed at understanding the level and nature of the underlying interaction process, and perhaps to biophysical modeling of the interaction process.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typein_vitro
Effect directionmixed
PopulationRNA coliphage MS2 replication in bacterial cultures (in vitro)
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureELF · 0.06 MHz · Exposure commenced at inoculation (t=0); effects assessed 45–65 min after inoculation
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

At 5 G (12 experiments), EMF-exposed cultures showed a significant delay in phage yield 45–65 minutes after inoculation compared with controls, but the final phage concentration was not altered. At 25 G (N=5), results suggested impeded phage replication and increased phage yield. No differences were observed in sham-EMF experiments.

Outcomes measured

  • Phage yield over time (delay 45–65 min post-inoculation)
  • Final phage concentration
  • Phage replication and yield at 25 G vs control
  • Sham-EMF comparison (systematic error check)

Limitations

  • Sample size not reported for the overall study (only number of experiments at 5 G and N=5 at 25 G are provided)
  • 25 G findings are described as suggestive rather than definitive
  • Exposure duration and other exposure parameters beyond frequency and field strength are not fully specified in the abstract
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 0.06,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "Exposure commenced at inoculation (t=0); effects assessed 45–65 min after inoculation"
  },
  "population": "RNA coliphage MS2 replication in bacterial cultures (in vitro)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Phage yield over time (delay 45–65 min post-inoculation)",
    "Final phage concentration",
    "Phage replication and yield at 25 G vs control",
    "Sham-EMF comparison (systematic error check)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "At 5 G (12 experiments), EMF-exposed cultures showed a significant delay in phage yield 45–65 minutes after inoculation compared with controls, but the final phage concentration was not altered. At 25 G (N=5), results suggested impeded phage replication and increased phage yield. No differences were observed in sham-EMF experiments.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported for the overall study (only number of experiments at 5 G and N=5 at 25 G are provided)",
    "25 G findings are described as suggestive rather than definitive",
    "Exposure duration and other exposure parameters beyond frequency and field strength are not fully specified in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "60-Hz",
    "ELF-EMF",
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "MS2 bacteriophage",
    "RNA coliphage",
    "in vitro",
    "phage replication",
    "phage yield",
    "sham exposure",
    "5 G",
    "25 G"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}
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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1007/s002849900313
PubMed: 9541567

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